Northbridge father says he never raped adopted daughter

Joseph Mayotte, on the stand in his own defense Monday, told a jury he never sexually abused his adopted daughter.

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 6, 2013 at 6:04 AM

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Posted Aug. 6, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 6, 2013 at 6:04 AM

WORCESTER

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Joseph Mayotte, on the stand in his own defense Monday, told a jury he never sexually abused his adopted daughter.

Mayotte, 50, of 67 Laura Lane, Whitinsville, is on trial in Worcester Superior Court along with his wife, Linda Mayotte, 49, of the same address, as the couple is accused of raping their adopted son and daughter. Whitinsville is a section of Northbridge.

Each faces 26 charges, including multiple counts of statutory rape of a child, rape of a child aggravated by age, indecent assault on a child and incest, among others.

Earlier in the trial, the Mayotte's adopted children took the stand. The daughter accused Joseph Mayotte of sexually abusing her for nearly five years starting when she was 8 years old. The son accused Linda Mayotte of abusing him for two years, starting when he was 13.

Joseph Mayotte testified that his daughter did often share his bed for two years after they adopted the children from Kazakhstan in 2004 because she would get afraid at night.

Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Riddle questioned Mayotte, saying his testimony is inconsistent with statements he and his wife previously made to police and social workers on several points such as about what his work hours were and whether he would wake or not when his daughter came into the bed.

“You have a memory of all these things, but when it comes to your statements for (the Department of Children and Families) you have no recollection?” Riddle asked.

Linda Mayotte also began her testimony later on Monday afternoon. She is expected to resume testifying Tuesday morning.